Summary

In this book the author explores the work and living experiences of Confucius Institute Chinese teachers (CICTs) in the UK, how they interpret and make sense of their sojourning experience, and how this context and the wider globalised social environment have impacted on their understandings and their personal growth. Because of their betwixt and between situation, the CICTs’ stories differ from those of other immigrants, international students and pre-service student teachers, who have been the main focus in L2 identity research. The book offers new insights into the Confucius Institutes (CI) with real life stories from teachers drawn from blogs, interviews and focus groups, drawing attention in the process to weaknesses of the CI programme and offering suggestions for ways forward which will be of interest to both stakeholders and those responsible for future international exchange programmes.

Review:

Taking Chinese to the World is one of the first works published outside China that addresses issues around the development of the influential Confucius Institute network. It contributes to research in the field of intercultural education/communication by looking at the transnational experiences of Confucius Institute Chinese teachers who live and teach in the UK. Insightfully and sensitively it addresses the impact of working abroad, not only on Chinese teachers’ changed perception of the host culture but also on how they feel about their own country.

- Xiao Lan Curdt-Christiansen, University of Reading, UK

This book is a timely and richly nuanced study of the experiences of Confucius Institute Chinese teachers working in the UK. It addresses the challenges they face and the ways in which their experiences impact on their evolving professional identities. The study is likely to become a key point of reference for future research in this area.

- John Gray, UCL Institute of Education, UK

Author Biography:

Wei Ye taught in a Confucius Institute in the US before completing her PhD at the University of Reading, UK. Her research interests include multicultural education, identity studies and public diplomacy.